Breaking the Pune jinx

Mumbai City FC face their local rivals in their second home game of the season.

Mumbai City FC’s second home game of the season could be decided by their foreign recruits, according to FC Pune City manager Miguel Portugal yesterday ahead of their Indian Super League derby match at the Andheri Sports Complex.

Portugal singled out Mumbai centre-back Lucian Goian, midfielder Paulo Machado and attacker Rafael Bastos as the players who could decide the outcome of the game.

The Islanders have played two games as opposed to Pune’s one this season, losing their first game to Jamshedpur FC 2-0 and then earning a 1-1 draw against Kerala Blasters in Kochi.

The home team haven’t beaten Pune in the past three games they have played at the Andheri Sports Complex. These losses have been particularly problematic since Mumbai haven’t scored against the visitors at home since 2014 as well.

Their last victory against Pune came in 2016 at the Balewadi Stadium when Matias Defederico – arguably the greatest player to don a Mumbai City FC jersey (in a team that had Diego Forlan in it) – scored the winner.

Therefore, it’s safe to say that the odds are stacked against the Islanders. But a new coach and a (almost) new team might signal a change in fortunes in the pitch.

The theme of Mumbai being a ‘new’ team is something that the coach Jorge Costa likes to point out and he was at it again as he said, “We are building a new team and Pune have almost the same team from last season. They have an advantage there and have a very good coach. It will be a difficult game for us.”

The Pune coach made it clear that they were here for three points, and said, “My team always tries to score one goal more than the opponent.” He also felt that ball possession and finishing a move were the aspects he wanted his team to focus on, come the match today. “I know Mumbai’s team very well. I know their players and their quality. I know (Lucian) Goian – who has good personality, good responsibility in defence,” he said, singling out Mumbai’s defensive lynchpin.